Blog

A few weeks ago, Israel's attack on a Turkish flotilla heading to Gaza marked a turning point in international opinion about the Gaza Blockade. Since then, the Obama Administration has called on Israel to take steps to ease the blockade. We believe that Israel's policy is impossible to defend, and...

Yesterday, Michigan, Kansas and Missouri held their primary elections. We, unfortunately, couldn't coerce any Arab Americans to run for public office in this year's elections in Kansas or Missouri, but we do have victories to declare in Michigan. Of the 9 Arab American candidates in races across the state, 4...

It's easy to try to dismiss this radical movement, and hope that these state law makers are operating in the fringe will never get the support needed to pass these kinds of laws. Then you hear that a senior Senator, or two, are exploring the possibility. In an interview about...

The great Helen Thomas reached another milestone today as she celebrates her 90th birthday! Here is a great post from one of her former colleagues about her illustrious career and some pictures from the many years she served at the White House. Thank you Helen for all that you did for Arab Americans, for...

The answer is no. But you wouldn't know it if you were watching Dan Senor on Hardball with Chris Mathews last night. Appearing to discuss the grave injustice he feels would be committed by allowing the American Muslim community to build a community center near ground zero, Dan Senor was introduced as...

Israel’s blockade of Gaza is counterproductive, immoral and illegal. Our government’s position on this flawed and tragic policy must change. We ask policymakers to consider the facts and work with our allies to end this policy. Doing so is in the best interest of the Palestinians, the Israelis, and our...

Overview: Nearly 1.5 million Palestinians are trapped in Gaza, with 4 out of 5 depending on humanitarian aid agencies for basic necessities. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon described the suffering inflicted on the people of Gaza by the blockade as "unacceptable." The blockade's purpose was not merely to keep weapons...

The health situation in Gaza, already worrisome during the early period of the blockade, was severely exacerbated in the aftermath of Israel's assault on Gaza in 2008/09 (known as Operation Cast Lead), in which much of Gaza's infrastructure destroyed with the possibility of repair due to the blockade. According to...

Restriction of Movement: Under the blockade policy, Palestinians are forbidden to leave Gaza except in special cases. Those who can't leave Gaza include many patients who need to leave for necessary treatment. Movement inside Gaza is also restricted by a unilaterally imposed "buffer zone" along the inside of the walls...

Today, New York City's Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) voted 9 to 0 against granting historic protection to the building at 45-47 Park Place and eliminated the key hurdle propped up by anti-Muslim groups opposed to the Islamic center in Lower Manhattan. The project became a focal point of controversy given the views...